The Vatican Information Service is a news service, founded in the Holy See Press Office, that provides information about the Magisterium and the pastoral activities of the Holy Father and the Roman Curia...[+]

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Thursday, September 3, 2009

VATICAN CITY, 3 SEP 2009 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon in the "Sala degli Svizzeri" of the Apostolic Palace at Castelgandolfo, Benedict XVI attended the screening of an abbreviated version of the film "St. Augustine", an Italian, German, Polish co-production. The film was made by Lux Vide/Rai Fiction, Bayerischer Rundfunk/Tellux Film, Eos Entertainment Rai Trade and Grupa Filmova Baltmedia. It was directed by Christian Duguay.

At the end of the screening, the Holy Father expressed his thanks to everyone involved in the project and pronounced some brief remarks. "I feel this film to be a spiritual journey in a spiritual continent, far distant from us yet at the same time very near because the human drama remains the same", he said.

"We have seen how, in a context far removed from our own, the reality of human life is represented with all its problems, sadness and failures, just as we have seen how, in the end, Truth is stronger than any obstacle and seeks out man. This is the great hope that remains at the end: we alone cannot seek out Truth, but Truth, which is a Person, seeks out us. Seen from the outside, the life of St. Augustine seems to finish tragically as the world for which and in which he lived comes to an end. But as was made clear in this film, his message remains and, even as the world changes, it endures because it comes from Truth and guides us to Charity, which is our shared destination.

"Thank you to everyone", he added in conclusion. "Let us hope that many people, watching this human drama, may be sought out by Truth and so discover Charity".OP/ST. AUGUSTINE FILM/... VIS 20090903 (300)

VATICAN CITY, 3 SEP 2009 (VIS) - On Sunday 6 September Benedict XVI will make a pastoral visit to the towns of Viterbo and Bagnoregio, in the Italian region of Lazio.

The Pope will depart from the Apostolic Palace of Castelgandolfo at 8.30 a.m., arriving in Viterbo half an hour later. Following the welcome ceremony on the steps of the Palazzo dei Papi in Piazza San Lorenzo, the Holy Father will make a brief private visit to the Hall of the Conclave.

At 10.15 a.m. he will preside at a Eucharistic concelebration in Viterbo's Valle Faul. At midday he will pray the Angelus.

In the afternoon, the Holy Father will visit the Marian Shrine of Our Lady of the Oak. On his way there he will pause briefly at the Shrine of Santa Rosa. At 5 p.m. he will travel by helicopter to Bagnoregio to visit the cathedral of St. Nicholas where he will venerate the relics of St. Bonaventure.

At 5.45 p.m., Pope Benedict will meet with local citizens in Bagnoregio's Piazza Sant'Agostino, before returning to Castelgandolfo by helicopter.OP/PASTORAL VISIT/VITERBO:BAGNOREGIO VIS 20090903 (190)